WC 2006: Group C - Group of Death

[luiz]

Argentina x Ivory Coast was better, though this one was still better than England x Paraguay.

 

[Comraddict]

Seems that group C will have the least number of suprirses. Argentina and Netherlands play last game, they will most likely both go if they draw the match.

 

[willemvanoranje]

NL won 1-0 in a match that was tactically acceptable but not nice to watch. It seems to turn out to be true that there are few chances to score in this World Cup. This match had precisely one really clear chance, which was converted by the best player on the pitch, Robben. If that makes it a deserved win I'm not that sure...
Holland relied far too much on one man and in the second half mostly stopped playing, a bit like England, though on a higher level.

I agree. This was not what I'd like to see from Holland, but Holland won and that's the most important. Robben was the only one posing real threats. Van Nistelrooy was nowhere to be found, the midfield wasn't doing very well either offensively and even Van Persie didn't do really well... but then again, Serbia and Montenegro didn't do, or weren't able to do a lot against it..

 

[Fëanor]

Netherlands-Serbia & Montenegro game = best game of tournament so far.

Great, great game!

I live in the netherlands and i must say that i enjoyed Trinidad & Tobago vs Sweden better.
IMHO The Netherlands played very average and Serbia & Montenegro barely average, a referee that whiste every time someone dives (mostly done by the netherlands) did not help either.

 

[willemvanoranje]

LAND HUP, HUP HOLLAND, HUP !!!!!

I like that avatar much better, so with your permission, Í'd like to switch to it too for the duration.

Ah, to have done eight years without this !

Permission granted!

 

[Rik Meleet]

I agree. This was not what I'd like to see from Holland, but Holland won and that's the most important. Robben was the only one posing real threats. Van Nistelrooy was nowhere to be found, the midfield wasn't doing very well either offensively and even Van Persie didn't do really well... but then again, Serbia and Montenegro didn't do, or weren't able to do a lot against it..

I thought Van Persie did well enough. IIRC 2 of his shots nearly went in, just missing the posts by inches. And he gave the pass to Robben.
Van Nistelrooy didn't have his day, although he wasn't bad. Simply unlucky. I give you that for a striker being unlucky is the same as being bad.

 

[kryszcztov]

So, not only do the Dutch have to wear orange shirts by thousands at the stadium, but they now have to display the same avatar here... Oh man, what a freaking nation !

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

ARG - CIV great match. The Dutch match was poor in comparison, most propably due to the heat.

Though I'm glad that Oranje got their first 3 points.

 

[Berrie]

ARG - CIV

This is a bit confusing on a Civilization forum. You were talking about football, right?

I admit, bad joke...

 

[Panda]

Serbia has a strong defense, so it was really not that big a surprise to see one meager goal. A bit dissapointed by Holland, though. Just about anything dangerous/semi-dangerous was either performed or initiated by Robben. Take him out and the Dutch look old.

 

[MCdread]

I disagree with most views that Holland vs. Serbia was a boring match. It was the best of the tournament imo so far, both on technical and tactical levels. At least it was the most dynamic of all (although in a way, Mexico-Iran was too and the fist half of the other match in this group).
But above all, what this match showed that any orther did so far, was a team that knew how to behave when in possession. That was Holland, which, despite the heat and the strong opposition, made a total of some 400 or 500 good passes, was able to move the game from one flank to the other, a basic skill of a top team, but nop one else ahs shown yet and in the fortunate expression of Valdano, is on its way to claim once again the title of the "Ball Team".
I've seen lots of matches so far, where players behave as if the ball burns and want to get rid of it soon. Holland was the first to show competence with the ball and a football idea, and that's what made this game interesting in my view.

 

[Dell19]

Yeah I agree that the Holland - Serbia match was decent to watch since both sides seemed to be actually playing football and trying to win. The first half of Mexico - Iran was interesting to watch but in the second half it became very one sided.

 

[Hitro]

I disagree with most views that Holland vs. Serbia was a boring match. It was the best of the tournament imo so far, both on technical and tactical levels. At least it was the most dynamic of all (although in a way, Mexico-Iran was too and the fist half of the other match in this group).
But above all, what this match showed that any orther did so far, was a team that knew how to behave when in possession. That was Holland, which, despite the heat and the strong opposition, made a total of some 400 or 500 good passes, was able to move the game from one flank to the other, a basic skill of a top team, but nop one else ahs shown yet and in the fortunate expression of Valdano, is on its way to claim once again the title of the "Ball Team".
I've seen lots of matches so far, where players behave as if the ball burns and want to get rid of it soon. Holland was the first to show competence with the ball and a football idea, and that's what made this game interesting in my view.

I agree on the tactical aspect, but certainly not on the dynamic (apart of Robben's first half, i.e. before the Serbs adjusted to it). It was tactically a far better match than for example England vs. Paraguay, but overall it was not much more interesting - unless of course tactical discipline is one of your main interests.

This is however the classic German style of play during the 80s and 90s, tactical discipline combined with certain individual talent. The style of play regarded as so boring by many. Funny that it is suddenly great when Holland does it...

In all fairness though MCdread has always appreciated that kind of football. Something I share to a certain degree, but I think the Dutch went quite a bit beyond that.

 

[MCdread]

This is however the classic German style of play during the 80s and 90s, tactical discipline combined with certain individual talent. The style of play regarded as so boring by many. Funny that it is suddenly great when Holland does it...

This has always been the typical dutch football: possession game, with short passes, move the ball around all of the pitch, and while the days of total football and interchange of positions are long gone, hold the sectors together so that the defenders don't have to or don't fall in the temptation of blindly kicking the ball towards the opponet's defence in the hope of a fluke heading from one of the forwards opening the other one.
The typical german play of the 80s and 90s had a similar philosophy of possession and passing the ball around, but was much more based on physical strength, and made use of the libero to unlock defences, while te classic dutch style opens it by simply increasing the intensity of ball circulation until opponents inevitably forget who they're marking. And the dutch usually play with the ball rolling much more time on the grass, which imo is harder to do at this level and more interesting to watch.
But the german style, in his best moments, when the team's "mechanics was well oiled" was also a joy to watch imo.

However, I'm not saying Holland was exciting or entertaining, what I'm saying was that so far (and I've just missed a match), they were the only team that showed an idea of how they wanted the game to unfold and were able to force the opponent play their way. And this despite having players in key positions that were very disappointing or don't seem in good shape at the moment (van Nistelrooy, Sneijder, Cocu), which from one point of view highlights the individual class of a team mate that does what Robben did, and on the other hand shows how they didn't disrupt because of those individual limitations (remember that less than a week ago it was being questioned if Sneijder or Cocu could be fit to go to the WC). Serbia is a very solid and experienced team and they were forced to watch Holland holding the ball in their own midfield when they were loosing and desperatly needed the ball and at least move the team to settle closer to van der Saar's goal.

 

[acidsatyr]

I think arg - serbia tommorow will be the best game yet

 

[AceChilla]

I think arg - serbia tommorow will be the best game yet

That and Holland-Ivory Coast.

But Holland-Argentine will be the best game in the group matches. Except when we are both already through to the next round, and I wouldn't mind that at all.

 

[willemvanoranje]

I'm afraid Holland - Argentina might kill my nerves

 

[Dell19]

You might have both already qualified.

 

[kronic]

What a goal.

Maradona is slowly getting on my nerves though.

 

[Dell19]

Why?

Argentina look very good at the moment and it seems that the group of death has not been as close as expected.